Machine for making buckle-levers



3 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. A. SPRAGUE.

Machine for Making Buckle Levers. No.231,199.\ Paten-fed Aug. 17 1880.

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L. A. SPRAGUE. Machine fof Makng Buckle Levers. y No. 231,199..

Patented Aug. 17,1880.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

LEONARD A. SPRAGUE, OF BROOKLYN, E. D., NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BUCKLE-LEVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,199, dated August1'7, 1880.

" Application filed December 2, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD A. SPEAGUE, of Brooklyn, E. D., in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Making Buckle-Levers; and I dohereby declare that the following' is a full, clear, and exactdescription ot' the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a plan view7 partly in section, of a machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section. Fig. 4 is a rear view of a machineembodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a detached view, enlarged, of the dieand matrix which bend the blank into U shape. Fig. 6 is a transversesection, enlarged, of the die and mandrel which perform the nextoperation in the formation of the lever. Fig. 7 is a transverse section,enlarged, of the dies and mandrel which complete the formation of thelever. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lever after it has been actedupon by the dies shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of thecompleted lever. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the matrix and diesaccompanying stops and detent. Fig. ll is a detached view of two of thedies and their actuating mechanism. Fig. 12 is a plan view of themechanism forimparting motion to the devices which feed the strip ofmetal to the machine represented in Figs. l, 2, and 3. Fig. 13 is aperspective view of a modiieation of the machine represented in Figs.1,-2, 3, and 4, the modification consisting in arranging the feedingmechanism and punchingdies upon a line at right angles to the positionin which they are shown in the other figures, whereby the machine isadapted to receive a ribbon of metal on a line parallel with themandrel, a single lever being employed to transmit motion from thedrivingshaft to the feeding mechanism. Fig. 14 is an end View of a'buckle-lever made by my machine. Fig. l5 is an end View, partly insection, of a buckle having oneof my improved levers applied thereto,and showing also straps connected by the buckle.

In the drawings, A represents the bed-piece of the machine, which may besupported in an y approved or desired manner. B is a standard risingfrom the bed-plate A, and may be either cast in one piece with the hedplate or iirmly attached thereto. B is the drivingshaft, mounted insuitable bearings in the standard B. B2is the driving-wheel, connectedwith driving-shaft B by any suitable clutch mechanism. O is a die-stockor die-carrier, mounted in or upon the standard B in such manner as torise and fall when actuated by means of the connecting-link C', theupper end of which is mounted upon acrank or eccentric on shaft B', thelower end of the link being adjustably connected with the die-stock bymeans of the screw c (see Fig. 4) in such manner that the throw ortravel of the die-stock may be regulated at will.

Attached to and moving with the die-stock are two dies, c, one of whichis shown in Fig. 4, the position of both, however, heilig shown indotted lines in Fig. l, which figure represents the machine constructedto feed -the ribbon of metal to the punch -dies at a line at rightangles to the path of the blank after it has been punched from theribbon, as and for a purpose set forth, which will be hereinafterexplained. These two dies punch small holes or slots through oppositeends of the blanks, as will be readily understood from an examination ofFig. 1.

c2 is a die, also attached to 'and moving with the die-stock U, for thepurpose of striking the blank from the ribbon, the plate D beingprovided with two throats, d, corresponding in size and position to thetwo dies c, and with another throat corresponding to the die c2, as willbe readily understood from an examination of Figs. 1 and 4.

E E E2 constitute a feeding mechanism, in which E is a block sliding ina suitable groove or way formed for its reception in or upon thebed-plate A. E is a clamp, the ears c of which are pivoted upon oppositesides of the block E, leaving room for the ribbon of metal to passeasily between the clamp and the upper face of said block.

E2 is an arm pivoted to the clamp E', and adjustably connected with thelower end of the lever by means of a set-screw, c', and pivot e2.

I will now describe the mechanism employed for actuating thefeeding-clamp.

IOO

Referring to Fig. 12, f/ is a earn-groove formed upon the outercircumference of a cam secured upon the drivingshaft ll'.

F F2 is a bell-crank lever, pivoted at its angle to any suitablesupportot the frame and actuated by the calli-groove y, so as to vibratein a horizontal plane. f' is a horizontal link connecting the arm F2 ofthe bell-crank lever with an upright lever, fl, which is pivoted at ff'to a support, f4, which projects from the upright or standard B, thelower end of the vertical leverf2 beingconnected with the arm E2 bymeans of a set-screw or pivot, c. Thus it will be understood that areciprocating motion will be connnunicated from the drivingshaft B' tothe feeding mechanism at each revolution of said shaft.

1n Fig. 13 the saine feeding mechanism is employed, aml is actuated by amodified construction and arrangeinentof levers, in which a lever, F, ispivoted at]` to an arm, li, which projects from the standard B, theupper end of the lever taking into the cani-groove y.

The ears t are pivoted in recesses formed for their reception in thesides of block 1*] in such relation to the walls of said recesses thatas the clamp is thrust forward or toward the dies it (the clamp) isrocked forward upon its pivots in such manner as to gripe the ribbonbetween the clamp and the upper face of the block, alid tlnls feed theribbon forward toward the dies but when the upperend of the clamp ismoved lmckward--that is, away from the dies-it is rocked upon its pivotsso as to release the ribbon, and when the ribbon is released the ears 4'engage with the rear wallsof the slots c, and thus move the block Ebackward with the clamp without disturbing the position o't' the ribbon.

G is another lever pivoted upon the bracket or arm H, and actuated bymeans of a eamgroove, g', on shaft B. G is a loop pivoted at g2 upon thelower end of the lever (i2. y is a stop formed upon level' (l near itslower end, against which stop the upper end of the loop G engages toform a practically rigid connection between the loop ti' and the leverwhen the lower end of the lever is moving backward-that is to say, fromthe dies but the connection between the loop and thelever by means ofthe pivoty q2 is a yielding frictional one, which permits a movement ofthe loop upon its pivot under certain cireiniistances, as willhereinafter be explained.

It will, of course, be understood that in the machine represented inFigs. 1,2, and l there is an upright substantially like that representedby B in Fig. 13, with a driving-shaft, driving-wheel, and crank andpitman, (represented by B', B2, and C' in Fig. 13,) this upright beingrepresented by B4 in Fig. lit, the standard, shaft, and driving-wheelbeing left off from Figs. 1, 2, and Ci, in order to show more clearlythe position and relation of the punching and bending mechanism, thesta-nd ard, shaft, and driving wheel or pulley being left off in Figs. 2and 3, because they are not l essential to the clear understanding ofthe parts more specifically shown and referred to in these figures. Andit will be readily un derstood that the drivingshaft B', cam-groove y,and the part l in Fig. 12 correspond to the similarly-lettered parts inFig. 13, and occupy the same relation to the mechanism represented iiiFig. l.

I i i' constitute a carrier constructed to slide freely in a grooveformed in the bed-plate A, the inner end, i, and transverse plate ibeing arranged to move immediately below the plate D, and in closeproximity thereto, as is plainly shown in Figs. l aml 2.

K is a tripping-bar connected with mechanism for uuclutching the. wheelB2 from the driving-shaft B by means of any usual or approved shippingcontrivance, which is not shown, and need lint be described, asI proposeto use any of the well-known devices which are employed for that purposein machines of this class. The projecting upper end, K, of thistripping-bar is arranged in a line coincident with the path traveled bythe lower end ofthe loop tl', in order that said loop may engage withand actuate the shipping-bar under certain circumstances, which will behereinafter referred to.

I2 is a folder projecting downward from the front end of a horizontalcarrier-bar, I.

I' represents a stud and spiral spring rising from the bed-plate A, thestud projecting through the central part of the horizontal bar l, to thefront edge of which the folder ll is attached, the rear end of said barbeing forked and engaging with and sliding upon an upright pivot, I.

A pusher-pin, c, projects downwardly from the die-carrier U and engageswith the front end of the bar I in such manner as to thrust the folderIl down into the recess l4 formed in the matrix L (see Fig. 5) at eachdownward movement of the die-carrier.

N N are dies sliding in suitable grooves or ways in or upon the upperside of the bedplate A, the inner faces of these dies being formed insubstantially the shape shown in Fig. t-that is to say, they are groovcdto correspond with the rib m at the lower edge of the mandrel M, (seeFigs. l and 6,) the inner lower corner of the die N'being recessed, asat n', while the die N is provided with a wedgeshaped tongue, n2, whichenters the recess n. (See Fig. 6.)

m is a rib projecting from the upper part of the mandrel M. Asrepresented in Fig. 6, the rib m at the lower edge of the mandrel M iscircular in cross-section, and is arranged ec centrically to thevertical shank of the mandrel-that is to say, the rib m projects fartherupon one side of the mandrel than it docs upon the opposite side, andthe groove n which is formed in the working-face of the die N' is deeperthan the corresponding groove n, which is formed in the working-face ofthe die N, for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

The dies N N are forced toward the inan- IOO IIO

IIS

drel by means ot' the levers P P, which are pivoted to the bed-plate atp, the toggle-levers Q Q, and the link R R', which is connected, bymeans of a coupling or box, r3, with a crank, b, on shaft B, the forkedend R of this link being connected with the standard S by means of abolt, fr, which moves in a slot, s, in said standard, the standard beingbolted to the bed-plate, the nearness with which the dies N Nl approachthe mandrel being regulated by set-screws a". (See Figs. 1 and 13.)

A spiral or other spring, N2, is interposed between the outer end ofeach of the dies N N and the inner face of each of the levers, thusinsuring that when the set-screws are withdrawn from the ends of thedies the dies shall still be thrust toward or up'on the mandrel with ayielding pressure.

O O are a second pair of dies arranged to slide in or upon thebed-plate, and provided upon their inner ends with grooves `o o, whichcorrespond to ribs m?, formed upon the mandrel a short distance abovethe rib m, these dies O O being connected by set-screws o o in levers P,and also provided with spiral or other springs, O', surrounding theset-screws between the levers P and the outer ends of the dies.

O2 O2 are T-shaped draw bars or links, ad-

A 3o justably connected with levers P P by means of set-screws p', andalso attached to the dies N N 0 O by means of set-screws o2 o2.

From the above description it will be seen that as the levers P P arewithdrawn from the mandrel M the dies are also drawn back slightly fromthe blanks with a positive movement by the links O2, but are heldforwardthat is, against the blanks-with a yielding pressure by springs0', in order that a slight looseness of the operating parts shall notpermit the dies to be so far thrust backward as to permit the blanks totelescope or overlap each other as they push each other forward u ponthe mandrel.

c2 a2, Fig. 10, are guides adjustably secured upon the bedplate or uponthe matrix by means of set-screws in such manner that their inner endscan be set as desired to determine the'point to which the blank shall bepushed by the carrier.

a a are spring latches or stops attached to the bed-plate, with theirfree ends toward the punching-dies.

My machine may be operated as follows: Referring to Figs. l, 2, and 3,the metal ribbon is passed under the clamp E of the feeding mechanism,thence under the dies c c, where it pauses, and during the backwardmovement of the feeding mechanism these dies punch two holes throughthemetal. The next forward movement of the feeding mechanism thrusts theribbon underneath the die c2, which punches the blank from the ribbon,and after the die c2 has been raised above the ribbon the carrier I t' tthrusts the blank upon the matrix L, the position of the cam-grooves g gupon the shaft B relative to the position of the crank or the cam whichoperates the punching-dies being so timed as to move the ribbon and theblank while the dies are up out ofthe way. The blank is thrust upon thematrix by the transverse plate t" of the carrier, the part t' of thecarrier entering the seat in the matrix, and after the carrier isreturned to the position shown in the drawings the pusher-pin c3 thruststhe folder l2 into the matrix, forming the blank into U shape. As theblank is thus thrust upon the matrix it (the blank) separates the freeends of the springs or detents a', which yield, but close their hookedends upon the rear side of the blank, so as to prevent its beingwithdrawn by the backward movement of the carrier, which would sometimesoccur were it not for these springs, especially in case the carrier hasa little oil upon it. As a blank is thus formed into U shape one of itsends is turned upward against the mandrel imlnediately below the rib m3,so that when the former Z2 is withdrawn into the position shown in thedrawings the partially-formed blank remains in the matrix, the rib m3serving as a stop against which the end of the blank strikes. Were itnot for this stop m3 the blank would be liable to be withdrawn with thefolder to such distance that the carrier would not push it (the blank)upon the mandrel. The next forward movement of the carrier, bringingwith it a new blank, pushes the U-shaped piece upon the mandrel, the endof the carrier being a little longer than the blank is wide, so that itprojects in front of the blank and pushes the U-shaped one upon themandrel and between the dies N N without the new blank coming in contactwith this partially-formed U-shaped one. As the carrier is againwithdrawn the former l2 presses the new blank into the matrix L, and thedies N N colnpress the U-shaped blank upon the mandrel, thus forming itinto the shape indicated in Fig. 8, as will be readily understood by anexamination of Fig. 6. The dies N Nl O O are advanced toward the core bythe action of the togglejoint Q Q and levers P P, the advance of thesedies being regulated at will to correspond with the thickness of themetal by means of the setscrews n* and o.

In order to facilitate the forcing of the U- shaped blank upon themandrel and between the dies N N', it may be found desirable to bevel orchamfer slightly the corners of the ends of the dies upon that sidetoward the advancing blank.

The next revolution of the shaft B and second advance of the carrierplaces a new blank upon the matrix and another partially-formed one orU-shaped one upon the mandrel, and forces the one which has been actedupon by the dies N N forward upon the mandrel between the dies O O, sothat when these dies are advanced toward the mandrel the upper edges ofthe metal are compressed upon the ribs m2, thus completing the formationof the lever, and each subsequent revolution of the shaft B repeatsthese operations, substantially IOO IIO

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as described, and advances the completed levers until they drop oil' theend ofthe inandrel and l'all tlirongli theopeiiing u4 in the bedplate.

It will be seen that from the fact that the central part of thebuckle-lever tits closely around the lower part ot' the mandrel whilethe upper edges are being compressed upon the ribs m2, said part nl ot'the mandrel serves to support the lever against the downward thrust ofthe upper part, o, of the dies t) t), thus insuring the proper formationof the said upper parts of the lever.

ln order to prevent the blanks from telescoping or sliding past one:mother upon the mandrel as they are pushed forward by the end i of thecarrier, l employ springs N2 U', interposed between the outer ends ofthedies and the levers l l, these springs acting to press the dies tiinilyagainst the blanks upon the mandrel duringa portion ol' the movementofthe levers l l outward, thus permitting the dies to yield sullieientlyto allow the blanks to be advanced upon the mandrel.

If, from any cause, the carrier fails to push the blanks upon themandrel properly, or if any other irregularity in the movement of' theblanks occurs in such manner as to interposc any unusual resistance tothe t'orwai'd movement 0f the carrier, the loop will swing upon itspivotgz, thus allowing the lower end ot' the lever to advance withoutmoving the carrier, the position ot` the loop relative to the lever.lliider these circumstances, being shown in dotted lines, Fig. 13, theresult heilig that upon the backward movement ot' the lower end ot'levei' G the lower end ofthe loop will engage with the trippiiig-bar l(l.' and disconnect the driving-shaft from its actuating power, thusstopping the machine and avoiding any injury to parts which would belikely to sult l'rom the machine continuing in inotidik an irregularityill its operation had occurred.

Referring to Fig. ti, it will be understood that the wcdging-tonguc 1rsupports the lower end of the part u ofthe lever firmly while the dies NN are compressing the metal upon thc mandrel; but owing to the wedgeshape of this tongue, when the die N is withdrawn from the mandrel theblank is released t'roin upward pressure against the mandrel, so that itcan be readily t'ed forward to the dies t).

In Fig. 13 l have shown a construction in which the metal ribbon,instead of being fed to the machine upon a line at` right angles to thecarrier l i i" and the mandrel, is led upon a line substantiallyparallel to the path traveled by the carrier, the ribbon, in thisinstance, passing through the loop G and under the clamp E of thefeeding mechanism. liy an examination of this Fig. 13, which is amodification of the machine represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 1l, and l2, itwill be seen that the position of the dies e and e' have been changed tocorrespond with this change in the direction of feeding the ribbon, sothat as the ribbon is fed iorward by successive impulses the dies c cpunch holes in the blank, and then the die t2 punches the blank from theribbon, and the skeleton which is left after the blanks have beenpunched passes over the bar l, which carries the folder I2, thelpusherpin el being so located as to pass through the open places in thcribboii-skcletoii from which the blanks are passed. 'lhe skeleton passesover the mandrel M and down through the opening a* in thc bed-plate.

lt will be understood that the machines represented in Figs. l, 2, 3, 4,and 12, andin Fig. 13, are alike in all substantial respects, exceptthat i'n Figs. l, 2, .'5, 4, and 12 the ribbon or strip o' metal is t'edto the machine upon a line at right angles to the path of the carrierand the mandi-el, whereas in Fig. 13, which represents a modification ofthc machine represented iii Figs. l, 2, 3, 11,and 12, the ribbon is fedin upon a line substantially parallel to the vertical plane ofthemandrel.

lly an examination of Figs. 6, 14, and 15 it will be seen that thebuckle-lever is adapted to be used upon a buckle-frame constructed oftwo side bars, V, (one only being shown in Fig. 15,) the side bars beingtied together by two end bars, r r2, and a central har, r, the leverbeing mounted upon the central bar, r, by means ofthe central groove orseat, u2 u, the groove u2 being ot' greater depth than the groove 1lupon the opposite side of the lever, the lip or bit u of the lever beingarranged upon a line not radial to the centerot' the groove or seat, buttangential thereto.

The. object in forming the lever with the groove eccentric theretothatis to say, with the groove u2 deeper than the groove u-is to insure thatthe central bar, c, of the bucklefra-me shall not spread the sheet of'metal of which the lip or bit 11 is made when the straps which thelbuckle unites are under tension. ln Fig. l5 l have illustrated thisfeature of my invention as follows: W' is a strap attached to the openor forked end of the bucklelever. W is another strap passing inside thcend bar, l", thence around the end of the bit or lip ot' thc lever,thence under the end bar, r2, of the buckle-trame, the direction of pullupon the straps being indicated by the arrows; ainl from an examinationof this figure it will be readily seen that, in consequence of the bar rbeing seated in the deep groove u2 of the lever, the tension or draftupon the straps has but little tendency to spread the lever at the lipor bit 1l. I have also found that by forniing the lip or bit u of thelever upon a line i tangential to the opening which receives the centralbar, r, of the frame, I ani enabled to gripe thc strap W more firmlynpoii the bar l" than could be, done were the lip u formed upon a lineradial to the central bar, v.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is- 1. ln a machine formaking buckle-levers, i the combination of the mandrel M, provided lOOIOS

with the ribs m m3 ofthe dies N N O O, and a support which presses thepart u of the lever against the rib m, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for making buckle-levers, the combination, with the diewhich punches blanks fromacontinuous sheet of metal, of two or more dieswhich successively form the metal into the desired shape, and a carrierwhich moves a blank from the punching-die to the forming-dies andadvances the partially-formed lever againstthe preceding lever,substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for making buckle-levers, the combination, with themandrel M, provided with the rib m, of the dies N N and a stop adaptedto engage with the lower end of the lever and determine the length ofthe bit u, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for making bucklelevers, the combination, with themandrel M, having rib m, of the dies N N and stops adapted to engagewith both ends of the partially-formed lever, to regulate its positionrelative to the mandrel and dies, substantially as set forth.

5. The herein-described method of manufacturing buckle-levers-that is tosay, by bending the blank into U shape, then forming the bit u and seatsu2 n3, and subsequently forming the grooves n4, substantially as hereinset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 3o my own I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

LEONARD A. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses:

H. H. DOUBLEDAY, QHAs. T. DE FOREST.

